El Toro Tack & Feed

History: Founded in 1978, moved to Lake Forest in 1992; closing in mid-May after going-out-of-business sale

Website: www.eltorotack.net

El Toro Tack & Feed, which set a standard for upscale merchandizing of horse supplies and clothing, will close in May after 35 years in business, the owners said this week.

"We regret that we are unable to continue due to the prevailing economic turmoil that brought down so many big-name brand stores," owner Guy Garrett wrote in a farewell letter to customers and vendors.

"It breaks our hearts to have to throw in the towel at this juncture. We have fought a hard battle the last four years trying to struggle through. As many of you know personally, it has been a valiant effort, and it has cost us all our future retirement and plans."

George Garrett and his son, Guy, both JC Penney veterans, filled their 9,500-square-foot Spanish-style shop with a mix of hoof cream, hay bales and $3,000 saddles. Feed store owners nationwide copied their ideas, and the store was featured in Tack 'n Togs magazine. After moving to its own building in 1992, El Toro Tack & Feed had annual sales around $3 million.

El Toro Tack & Feed, which predated big-box retailers Pet's Mart and Petco, had already survived two recessions by 1994. George Garrett told the Register at the time, "Feed stores have survived every recession that ever was." The store would survive two more recessions.

But the 2007-2009 recession, a slow recovery, Orange County's changing demographics and Internet competition finally forced the Garretts to close the shop and sell the small commercial center that El Toro Tack & Feed anchors. They declined to give financial details, but saidannual revenues are now less than a third of the boom times. Neither man would discuss the financial details of the property sale, but George Garrett said an investor "made an offer we couldn't turn down."

A going-out-of-business sale with prices cut 20 percent to 80 percent has started and will end when escrow on the sale of the building closes in mid-May, George Garrett said. In addition to merchandise, the Garretts are selling fixtures, a buffalo head hanging in one room of the shop and even the warehouse forklift.

Ruthanna Bridges of Bridges Equestrian riding school in San Juan Capistrano said she and her students will greatly miss the Garretts and their store. "I built my business on El Toro Tack & Feed. They were our team supporter, our supplier. My students would get personalized, one-on-one service."

She noted that the store used to be surrounded by horse stables, many of which have closed and replaced by fast food restaurants, service businesses and offices.

The 1999 closure of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station also hurt business, George Garrett said. "The Marines used to buy a lot of western gear and bull-riding supplies. After they left we moved more to eastern riding equipment and clothing."

Orange County has changed in other ways, Guy Garrett said. "In previous recessions, horses were traded around but stayed in the county. In the last recession, many owners sold their horses or moved them to Norco where board was cheaper. One supplier told me there are 2,500 fewer horse stables nationwide now, and local stables have 70 to 80 empty stalls each."

El Toro Tack & Feed took an even bigger hit from the Internet, he added. "Customers come in and have you fit everything then go buy it online even if you try to match the price."

George Garrett added that customers complained that the shop was high priced. "We have $500 show jackets but we also have ones for $99," he said.

But stocking lower priced merchandise affected profits, Guy Garrett said. "Breeches have a 40 percent (profit) margin. When I sell a pair for $175 we make more than a $79 pair. Now there are not enough horse people to make (a lower-price strategy) work."

Once the store closes, Guy Garrett, 56, said he plans to reinvent himself to find work. His 78-year-old father said he will retire and go fishing. "Here's my attitude," George Garrett said, pointing to a 1910 newspaper framed in his office in which frontiersman and entertainer Buffalo Bill Cody announced his retirement: "Following a series of farewell exhibitions, which I hope to give in 1910 and 1911, I shall permanently abandon the arena and seek to enjoy some of the fruits of my labors that I feel that I have well earned during a long life of acting on the frontier."

Another old sign at El Toro Tack & Feed is one long time customers will remember seeing as they leave because it hangs over the door as they leave. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Guy and George Garrett have owned and run El Toro Tack & Feed for 35 years. The Lake Forest business is going out of business because of the recession, which drove many horse owners out of the county, and the Internet are to blame, the owners say. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Guy Garrettt hold two macaw parrots that have been part of the store for many years. Mossimo, the blue and gold, has been at El Toro Tack & Feed for the entire 35 years and says hello and goodbye to customers while Gus, the green macaw, has been around for 5 years and is also a friendly greeter. Guy says some folks come by just to see his feathered friends, and , he added, they will be missed. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
An original sign hangs over one of the doors at El Toro Tack & Feed which is going out of business after 35 years. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
English riding saddles and other riding apparel and tack fill El Toro Tack and Feed which has been in business for 35 years. They will soon be closing. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER

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